Zanzibar

Thursday, March 10

Today, I packed for my little holiday.  It was a nice morning, not too hot and I had the nice feeling of anticipating a nice break.  Even thought I really love the work at the orphanage, it does wear me down physically and emotionally too. Other volunteers who have come with me for a day have commented on how fatigued they are when they leave. 

As I was packing, Flora, the woman who dies housekeeping duties came into my room.  Flora is what I would call a handsome woman.  Not really pretty in a classic way, but her strong face, height and just overall presence, comes together to create an overall look of someone who is good looking.  Flora is about thirty and though very nice, also has a hint of a little attitude, which I like.

I was showing her the pants I bought from Tahea, which is a shop started and run by a women's group.  There are several such groups springing up in these villages.  I think it is wonderful because, the rights of women ahs been really poor here and although they are the backbone of society, they do not have good self-esteem.

As I was talking with her, I brought out the little photo album of my friends and family.  The people here are extremely family oriented and are very curious to  learn more about mine – they love to look at the pictures.  The only thing is, now that I am here, I look at the pictures differently.  Now, instead of just looking at faces, ect…, I notice the beautiful, non-mended clothes.  And, I see the luxury of what I used top think of as a nicely, but relatively modest home.  In these pictures, it looks as thought I am a queen, living in a palace.  And. In actuality, it is true.  So, I feel a little bit guilty in showing these pictures, because the people who are seeing these, are looking through a lens that shows a life of comfort and leisure that they can never hope for.  I never sense any resentment on their part, so the discomfort must come from my own conscious.

Also, in looking at the photos, I pointed out the pictures of my parents. I told Flora that my dad had passed away.  She put her hand on my shoulder and said in the most sympathetic voice –"Pole" (sorry).  These people are so spiritual and so sympathetic, that this moved me to …. You guessed it – tears.  At that point, she put her arm around me and I put my head on her shoulder.  It is funny how the grief hits me at  unexpected times and that comfort can come from unexpected sources.

Trip to Zanzibar…

Andrew and John, both 21 years old were traveling with me to Zanzibar.  They are both students at Georgetown and very nice young men.  They are the yes that Jacqueline and Catherine would have as guy friends.  We started out with an hour and a half taxi ride to Arusha.  The driver must have been going 70.  And on these roads, that feels like a hundred and fifty.  So, we all looked our our seatbelts which were bunched somewhere in the seat crevice and held on.

At the airport, we checked in  -no passport or ID required. We sat down in the outdoor lounge and had a soda.  The runway was just a few feet where we were sitting and all the planes were small, propeller type planes.  Someone was joking that the mechanic was just getting the plane air ready by applying duct tape to areas where it needed it.

As we boarded, I was looking for my seat number and a British sounding man said to me "You just sit anywhere –it's Africa."  So, I found an empty seat and wound up next to a French woman. She was on vacation from Southern France.  At some point during the noisy ride (we were seated next to the propeller), we started talking about politics.  She was being careful not to insult me, but said that in general, the people she knows do not like George Bush and are not happy about the war.  Of course, this is not unexpected of the French, but it seems everyone I talk to no matter where they come form, have a similar opinion.  But, they are careful to say that they do like Americans in general.  It is interesting to me to see how the rest of the world views our country.

Sat, March12

I am sitting in an internet café on the beach writing this e-mail and wearing a scuba wet suit – half on and half off.  The reason for this is that it is raining cats and dogs and after I paid my money and got my equipment set up, a torrential rain started.  So, at the dive shop, they decided to wait and see if it clears off.  I am hopeful,. Because I am so ready to dive in the Indian Ocean.

This morning at breakfast, the nice young man who was our waiter told us that the rain would clear off.  He said, it's just a shower to say "hello mzungu – I am here".  He said that the fishermen love the rain because it causes the fish to come to the surface.

I am typing my journal now, because the power in the internet café keeps shutting off and the internet is not working at the moment.  That is a common occurrence in Africa -= the power waxes, wanes, shuts off, then comes back in fits and starts.  It can be frustrating, but is just a fact of life here.  Normally,. It appears to be weather related, but sometimes, unexplained. 

So, now, I wait to see if the internet resumes or if I get to go dive.  My time in Africa has involved a great deal of waiting which is a challenge for an American woman who has only thin threads of patience. 

Now the internet has resumed, but it is still pouring rain.  I am looking outside at the road which now looks like a red, murky river.  Can't wait to walk in that. Yes, I am having a bit of an attitude problem at the moment.  Mark, the dive master from the shop just stopped in to tell me that they are going to postpone the dive until 2:00 if it clears.  I will stay hopeful, but is sure looks like pea soup in the sky.